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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Polish President Andrzej Duda has warned Ukraine that it will have to “make compromises” in order to achieve a lasting peace with Russia. He also expressed his “belief that Donald Trump can bring this war to an end”.
Duda, a conservative whose second and final term in office ends in August this year, has been both a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion and a close ally of Donald Trump.
In an interview with Euronews, the Polish president stressed that, in his opinion, “there is no one outside the United States who can stop Vladimir Putin”.
Andrzej Duda: Ukraina będzie musiała ustąpić w pewnych kwestiach #EuropeNews https://t.co/5IHF61XFyA
— Euronews po polsku (@euronewspol) April 24, 2025
“That’s why I believe that President Donald Trump, with his determination, can bring this war to an end,” said Duda. “It is only this American pressure that can really bring this war to an end and help forge a peace that will not be comfortable for either side. But maybe that’s what will make it last
Speaking about the potential peace agreement, Duda said “it has to be a compromise” that “comes down to the fact that neither side will be able to say that it won this war, because each side in some sense will have to step down”.
That means “Ukraine will also have to step down in some sense”, continued Duda. “To what extent? It is difficult for me to answer at this stage,” he added, without elaborating on what concessions he believes Kyiv would have to make.
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During his election campaign, Trump promised to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to a swift end. Since being sworn into office in January, several rounds of peace talks have taken place between the countries.
The Trump administration has pushed for a deal involving significant Ukrainian concessions, most recently including possible recognition of Russian control over Crimea, which Ukraine has so far refused.
Trump has recently expressed frustration with the lack of progress towards a deal, voicing criticism of both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Poland’s @AndrzejDuda has urged @ZelenskyyUa to "remain calm and constructive" in dealings with the US.
"I have no doubt that Trump is guided by a deep sense of responsibility for peace…[and] that goodwill and honesty form the foundation of US strategy" https://t.co/DsapdeRdGU
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) February 21, 2025
In his interview with Euronews, Duda also stressed the importance of the US military presence on Polish territory. He noted that around 10,000 US troops are stationed in Poland and said he would “encourage President Trump to have more American units here”.
Earlier this month, the US announced plans to withdraw its forces from the Polish city of Rzeszów – which since 2022 has become the main hub for aid to Ukraine – and relocate them to other parts of Poland.
Key members of the Trump administration have praised Poland, in particular its high level of defence spending. During a visit in February, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called Poland a “model ally”. This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited Poland as “an example for other European nations”.
The US has announced that it will withdraw troops from Rzeszów – the Polish city that is the main hub for aid to Ukraine – and relocate them elsewhere in Poland.
It says the decision will “save US taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year” https://t.co/pZTwfYCgYE
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 8, 2025
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Main image credit: Jakub Szymczuk/KPRP
Agata Pyka is an assistant editor at Notes from Poland. She is a journalist and a political communication student at the University of Amsterdam. She specialises in Polish and European politics as well as investigative journalism and has previously written for Euractiv and The European Correspondent.
